About Me

I finally made it to the adventure of a lifetime and now I'm a citizen of the World. Indy author, blogger, in love with being an author - Mom of two grown children and widow of the most wonderful man to ever live - Devon "Pete" Hall.

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Leaving Family and Friends Behind

One of the first questions I was asked when I began telling
people my plan to retire overseas was “Won’t it be hard to leave your family
and friends behind?” I had already thought this through and was able to answer
no.

Here’s why. My mother I see about once a month. My sisters
who live locally I manage to visit with about six times a year. My sister who
lives in Montana I rarely get to see. I have two grown children; a son in the
Los Angeles area and a daughter in Phoenix. If I’m lucky I get to see each of
them for a couple of days twice a year or so. My dearest friends I can usually
get together with for coffee or a meal every couple of months.This isn’t much time to spend with those you
care about.

Logically, by visiting the States for a month or more every
year, I’ll be able to see everyone for the approximate same amount or more of
time I currently spend with them, except my friends. My daughter plans on
visiting me wherever I am once a year as well, so for her I will actually see
her for far longer (and in more exciting circumstances) than I currently do. I’m
trying to work on my friends a bit to see if I can’t get them to join me on my
adventures as well. Having a girlfriend to see Machu Picchu with would be
wonderful. We’ll see if I can manage it.

My children, especially, I plan on using Skype to
communicate with regularly and therefore will “see” them much more
frequently since currently only my daughter and I use Skype, and only then on
special occasions.

Communicating will be better, I believe, when I’m sending
out pictures and emails regularly. The only one who I have special needs with
is my mother, who doesn’t have the Internet. I’ve already given my sister a
stack of pre-addressed and stamped envelopes so she can just print out an email
from me for my mom and mail it to her.

And the most interesting thing I’ve run into is the
information that WiFi is apparently everywhere in the developing countries;
far more available than in the States. I’m counting on that!